Marathon is the most immediate business card to knock a city. A half marathon recently kicked off in Meinyu Dike, Nanyang Neighborhood of Xiaoshan District. Close to 1,000 runners competed while admiring the beautiful scenery, culture and development of the neighborhood. Their dream of knowing a city in a marathon came true. 

Nanyang witnessed the vicissitudes of time in Hangzhou. It is the place where the miracle of enclosing tideland for cultivation took place, and also the cradle of Xiaoshan spirits advocating braving the tides and difficulties. It is a marathon that connects Nanyang’s culture with its natural landscape. Gathering unique city culture of marathon, it exhibits the splendid scenery, profound culture and vibrant ethos of Nanyang to people coming from afar. 

“It is hard not to become famous. Meinyu Dike has emerged as an IP of Nanyang’s fashion culture,” said a chief of the Nanyang Neighborhood. Tide is a totem for people in Xiaoshan. It is also where the Xiaoshan spirits come from. Nanyang boasts the provincial-level cultural heritage of tide watching at Qiantang River, the most tantalizing part is scrambling for fish in the tide. Running on the dike is a scene similar with scrambling for fish in the tide. It is also in alignment with values marathons advocate for, which include challenging oneself, pushing up the limit, staying perseverant, and never giving up. 

Notably, a Cheongsam show made a grand debut as a warm-up performance. Distinctive umbrellas with novel design and fashion style in the show made Nanyang more unforgettable. 

In essence, organizing the marathon, Nanyang is marketing itself, and giving back the best gift to society. “Running in the marathon is a great experience. It is the first time I come to the Nanyang Neighborhood. It’s a great place,” said a participant surnamed Wang who started his own business in Xiaoshan. Wang wanted to run in the marathon last year, and came to Nanyang specially for it this year. The marathon made him more confident in future life. To him, the marathon offered a chance to know the city he worked in. 

The chief of the Nanyang Neighborhood said that Nanyang took the marathon as a rare opportunity to boost cultural tourism. In the future, active measures will be taken to build the marathon event into a new IP for the city.